The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-06-03
VIII the Price Of Tobacco Advance i?

We do not presume to answer this
question. We desire, however, to call
attention to certain facts that must in
the future effect the market for the sta
pie crop Of our section, in more or less
degree. One of the fundamental princi-
pies of political economy is that, when
the supply is greater than the demand
continued production is sure to occasion
loss. And as soon as this happens, re-
action takes place and the supply is al
most certain in very short time to be
unequal to the demand. The rapid ad-
vance lately in coffee is attributed to this
fact. A few years ago the supply was
SO abundant that the prices obtained
ceased to remunerate those engaged in its
cultivation. The coffee trees and coffee
plantations were allowed to 90 down
Last year the season proved to be impropi
tious, and this added to other causes made
the crop extremely small, SO that the
price Of coffee has already reached an
enormous fgnre and is still advancing.
1t is we'll known that the market for
Maryland tobacco, and in fact for all to-
bacco, has for some years been ovcrbur-
dened. Its cultivation has, in many in
stances been, no doubt, at loss to plan
tiers. Loath to abandon it, they have
continued its production in the vain hope
that a change would cone Farmers
have at last been forced to accept the in
evitable and are turning their attention
to other crops. The following extract
from the last report of the Department
of agriculture is significant:
tobacco is the only crop the area of
which is re duced wherever grown. At
ruling prices it is unremunerative in New
England and Pennsylvania, and consi-
derable portion of its area is being devo-
ted to small crops; Maryland, Virginia,
and North Carolina show heavy de-
cline, the area in the first State going to
grass, and in the others to grass and the
spring cereals together. Some counties
in these States report that the average
will fall off SO per cent, and in some
cases even more. The falling off in Ten
nessee and Kentucky is general, though
not so heavy. the area being given to
miscellaneous crops. In no section does
there appear to be any corresponding in
crease, correspondents generally stating
that under existing conditions it is not a
paying crop
If this is true, it is reasonable to be-
lleve that at no very distant day the mar
ket for tobacco will be better 1t may
not be sensibly felt this year or next, but
as certain demand will continue to ex-
ist. the inducements to produce will soon
become such that crop will be cultiva-
ted, sufficient to meet that demand
Those who can bear up under the pres
ure, and persevere in the cultivation of
tobacco, we believe will not have occasion
to regret it. On general principles, it
will be safer not to make this our sole de-
pendence, and to cultivate variety of
crops, but for many portions of Southern
Maryland tobacco must continue to be. if
possible, the chief crop. The soil and
climate, the experience and habits of our
people, all conduce to make tobacco grow
ing desirable occupation. Greater care
and more method in cultivation will help
to make it more profitable one.